Frans Steyn admits the stress of facing Boland has cast a shadow over the excitement, as the Cheetahs prepare for a tough Currie Cup clash in Wellington.

The Cheetahs begin the 2025 Currie Cup campaign with a trip to the Western Cape, returning to the field where Boland beat them 45-29 in the SA Cup earlier this year. For director of rugby Frans Steyn, the excitement of the new season is mixed with nerves.

“Am I looking forward to the Boland game? No, I don’t like this feeling, I don’t like the stress,” said Steyn. “I am excited to see the squad and players, they have been working hard. But with the stress of preparing for a game, I don’t enjoy that. I don’t like it.”

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Captain Victor Sekekete expects a chess match, especially given there are some familiar faces in the Boland lineup.

“It’s going to be a great tactical battle,” said Sekekete. “We know what Boland want to do. There are some people on their side that know how we like to play. We are looking forward to a great game. We are focusing on ourselves and executing our plans on the day.

“Scrumming-wise we have held our own against Griquas and Georgia. The young guys are stepping up, and it’s an exciting time for South African rugby. We need everyone to be on the same page, to strike first and get points. That will make us competitive.”

The Cheetahs stunned Georgia 24-20 in a pre-season fixture in Bloemfontein, part of their 130-year celebration of Free State rugby. Steyn felt the performance gave the team a platform for the campaign ahead.

“The one thing that came out of the Georgia game was the work rate and the physicality,” said Steyn. “We went to the next level and set the standard. If we want to do well in this competition we need to improve on that every week.”

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New recruit Ntokhozo Makhaza made an instant impact against Georgia, scoring twice on debut after being named 2025 Varsity Cup Player of the Season. Steyn hailed him as a valuable addition to the team, on and off the field.

“You can see there is something special about Makhaza, he is an awesome asset to have in our squad,” Steyn said. “The biggest thing for me is his mindset off the field. I’m very happy that we can have someone special like him here with us.”

“For the young players to be sticking with us is great, but our structures aren’t where they should be,” he said. “We want the best junior setup, where younger guys want to come play for us.

“If we get to the place where I can send a player an offer and they can’t wait to come to Bloemfontein, then we are on the right track. Right now that isn’t the case, but that is my goal for the Cheetahs.”

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images